Shishui City, Spirit Pill Pavilion.
Ever since Master Mo was expelled by the Underground Alliance, Xue Butong had beco the undisputed number one Spiritual Craftsman in Shishui City.
Xue Butong was fundantally different from Master Mo.
Xue Butong didn't bully others with his power, nor did he throw his weight around. As a result, his reputation was quite good.
He had a wide circle of friends.
Furthermore, he had made another breakthrough in his path as a Spiritual Craftsman, reaching the level of a Tier One Advanced Spirit Craftsman. He was just one step away from advancing to Tier Two.
Because of this, all the powerful experts in Shishui City had no choice but to start currying favor with Xue Butong.
Over ti...
A few experts from several families eventually earned Xue Butong's approval and beca his friends.
This entire developnt was a positive trend for the Spirit Pill Pavilion. Under Xue Butong's leadership, the Pavilion had co to occupy two-thirds of the Pill market in Shishui City. The remaining third wasn't because the Spirit Pill Pavilion lacked the strength to take it over, but because Xue Butong believed in not taking things to the extre, always leaving a path for others to survive.
Because of this, the growth of Xue Butong's Spirit Pill Pavilion didn't et with overly strong resistance from the major powers.
Half a year passed like this, and the Spirit Pill Pavilion was now undoubtedly one of the top powers in Shishui City.
However, a piece of news that spread from within the Spirit Pill Pavilion over a month ago thrust it into the eye of the storm.
A month ago, a rumor suddenly began to circulate that Xue Butong was on the verge of successfully refining the Breaking Forbidden Spirit Pill. Any expert at the Peak of the Earth Soul Realm who consud this Pill would be guaranteed a one hundred percent chance of stepping into the Celestial Soul Realm. Moreover, unlike other Pills that hastened growth at the expense of future potential, the Breaking Forbidden Spirit Pill would not deplete the user's latent abilities.
In other words, the Breaking Forbidden Spirit Pill only helped one break through to the Celestial Soul Realm; it wouldn't affect their future developnt.
Once this news spread, all of Shishui City was in an uproar.
The three great families, led by the Hong Family and followed by the Wang and Lin Families, began sending experts to contact the Spirit Pill Pavilion.
The purpose of their visit was simple: to make Xue Butong hand over the Breaking Forbidden Spirit Pill and its Pill Recipe.
However, the Breaking Forbidden Spirit Pill was a type of Spirit Pill passed down from Ancient Tis. One could say that with each one consud, there was one less in the world. Even if a Spiritual Craftsman held the Pill Recipe, it was most likely an incomplete version pieced together from ancient texts, making it impossible to refine into a finished Pill.
Xue Butong had been obsessed with researching the Breaking Forbidden Spirit Pill for decades, and he had only managed to perfect the Pill Recipe with Hong Yu's help.
After painstakingly collecting materials for decades, he had finally succeeded in refining a single Breaking Forbidden Spirit Pill.
How could he possibly hand this Spirit Pill over?
As for the Pill Recipe, it was the culmination of decades of his own hard work. How could he compromise?
Xue Butong righteously refused the experts from the three great families.
He thought that would be the end of it, but unexpectedly, late one night half a month later, a group of extrely powerful n in black stord the Spirit Pill Pavilion. Not only did they loot the place, but they also intended to capture Xue Butong and force him to reveal the whereabouts of the Pill Recipe and the Spirit Pill. Fortunately, Xue Butong's own strength was quite formidable.
Coupled with his mastery of the esoteric way of Pills, his thods of using poison were also exceptionally strange and cunning.
Three of the experts were poisoned to death, and one man in black was severely injured.
But in the process, he too was gravely wounded, and less than a tenth of his strength remained.
Afterward, by identifying the three corpses, Xue Butong deduced that they were all from the three great families.
Xue Butong planned to take Yun ngyao and the other survivors from the Spirit Pill Pavilion and leave Shishui City.
Unfortunately...
Before they could even leave the Pavilion, they were surrounded by experts from the three great families and trapped inside.
If Xue Butong hadn't threatened to take them all down with him using deadly poison, the experts from the three great families would have stord the Spirit Pill Pavilion long ago. Even so, Xue Butong, Yun ngyao, and three other survivors from the Pavilion had been trapped inside for a full half-month. And today was the final deadline given by the three great families.
"Master Xue, today is the last day. What should we do?" Yun ngyao asked weakly, her pearly white teeth biting her lower lip.
The young girl's eyes were completely bloodshot.
For the past half-month, she hadn't had a single comfortable night's sleep, constantly on edge and terrified that the experts from the three great families would break down the door.
Naturally, her spirits were low.
Xue Butong's face was deathly pale. During the raid that night, he had been besieged by five Earth Soul Realm experts and was severely injured. If not for his own skill in Alchemy and the nurous Life-saving Pills he possessed, the Death God would have likely claid his old life long ago.
"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."
Xue Butong coughed violently, his breathing ragged. He gave a bitter smile. "Yaoyao, it's all my fault for dragging you all into this."
"Master Xue, you're being too serious."
Yun ngyao shook her head and said stubbornly, "They're clearly the ones who are too greedy. This isn't your fault!"
"Greed?"
Xue Butong froze for a mont, then smiled bitterly. "Yes, greed. I considered him a friend, and in the end, this is how he treats because of greed. Hehehe, the human heart... oh, the human heart..."
A wave of despair washed over Xue Butong.
Seeing Xue Butong's breath as faint as a thread, Yun ngyao's Heart Spirit tightened. Her lovely brow furrowed, and she bit her lip as she gently shook him. "Master Xue, you can't give up. My brother told that no matter what you're doing, as long as the outco isn't decided, anything can change. It's not over for us yet!"
"Hong Yu?"
The image of that radiant, sun-like young man's back surfaced in Xue Butong's mind, and a strange feeling suddenly arose in his heart. 'If he were here, he could probably solve our predicant, right?'
But then he shook his head, finding his own thought ridiculous. 'How could that be possible? Over half a year ago, he was just a little guy at the Half-Step Earth Soul Realm. Even with his incredible talent, his cultivation is probably only at the Earth Soul Realm by now! Even if he ca, he couldn't possibly save ...'
As he was lost in thought, three trendous booms suddenly echoed from the outer gate.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
The sound of three heavy drumbeats ca from outside the gate.
It was followed by a clamorous shout. "Xue Butong, your deadline is up. You can make your choice now. First, hand over the Pill Recipe for the Breaking Forbidden Spirit Pill and the finished Pill. You must also swear to help our three families refine at least three more Breaking Forbidden Spirit Pills. If you do, we'll let your Spirit Pill Pavilion go and guarantee that no one will interfere with it in the future."
"Your second choice is to continue resisting to the bitter end. When that ti cos, not only will you die, but every single blade of grass in your Spirit Pill Pavilion will be turned to dust. You will be the one responsible for their deaths."
The voice paused, then continued to shout, "I'll give you a count of five to consider. If you don't make a choice, our three great families will resort to force!"
"Five!"
"Four!"
"Three!"
"Two!"
Hong Lin, who had already advanced to the Peak of the Ninth Layer of the Essence Realm, stood at the gate of the Spirit Pill Pavilion, shouting at the top of his lungs.
Ever since Hong Hu and Hong Luàn were killed by Hong Yu, Hong Lin had beco the top genius of their faction, second only to the Four Kings.
The treatnt and resources he received were naturally substantial.
Although the death of his grandfather, Hong Tiande, had a significant impact on his status, the faction of the Fourth Elder and Fifth Elder still took good care of him. For this siege on the Spirit Pill Pavilion, the Hong Family had given command to Hong Lin. On one hand, it was to let him reap so benefits. On the other, it was a way of grooming him.
Hong Lin was arrogant and smug. He said coolly, "Xue Butong, since you want the entire Spirit Pill Pavilion to be buried with you, don't bla us for being rciless!"
Hong Lin raised his right hand high. The experts from the three great families behind him took a step forward in unison, their powerful montum enveloping the entire Spirit Pill Pavilion.
They were just waiting for Hong Lin's order to charge into the Spirit Pill Pavilion.
However...
Just as Hong Lin was about to give the order, the tightly shut gates of the Spirit Pill Pavilion suddenly swung open.
"Stop!"
Xue Butong's weak voice ca from within.
"Halt!"
Hong Lin raised a hand to stop the restless experts behind him.
He crossed his arms, his eyes filled with a cold, dark indifference as he stared at the Spirit Pill Pavilion.
Supported by Yun ngyao, Xue Butong staggered out from the Spirit Pill Pavilion. He looked at the Pavilion's sign, which lay on the ground, smashed into several pieces, and his heart filled with grief. Looking up at the murderous experts from the three great families, he took a deep breath and said in a heavy voice, "Hong Lin, you brat! Must you really wipe out my Spirit Pill Pavilion?"
Hong Lin snorted disdainfully and said coolly, "Don't play pitiful in front of , old man. That act doesn't work on . This siege on your Spirit Pill Pavilion wasn't the decision of my Hong Family alone. It was a joint decision by all the families and powers in Shishui City."
"Xue Butong, I advise you to hand over the Pill Recipe for the Breaking Forbidden Spirit Pill and the finished Pill! That way, you can at least save your life and your Spirit Pill Pavilion. Otherwise, after today, your Spirit Pill Pavilion will beco history!" Hong Lin's lips twitched into a cold, cruel smirk.
"You..."
Xue Butong was overco with rage and coughed up several more mouthfuls of blood.
"Master Xue, are you alright?"
Yun ngyao supported Xue Butong, completely oblivious as the blood, gushing like a spring, stained her clothes red.
Xue Butong shook his head. "I'm fine."
Yun ngyao bit her lower lip, her reddened eyes fixed on Hong Lin. "Hong Lin, isn't it enough that you've hard Master Xue this much? There were over twenty people in the Spirit Pill Pavilion, and you killed all but the five of us. Aren't you afraid of retribution?"
"Well, well, look who it is. It's Yun ngyao, that bastard Hong Yu's tough little sister!"
Hong Lin licked his lips, his expression turning greedy and fervent. "Ah, little ng Yao, you're getting more and more beautiful. Why don't you co play with your big brother Hong Lin tonight? As long as you serve well, I guarantee I won't harm anyone else from your Spirit Pill Pavilion."
"You... you're shaless! If... if my brother were here, he would definitely beat you black and blue," Yun ngyao said, her cheeks flushed with anger.
"Hong Yu?"
The mont that na was ntioned, Hong Lin felt a volcano of molten lava erupt in his chest. A layer of venomous hatred and coldness washed over his eyes. "It would have been better if you hadn't brought him up. But since you did, let tell you plainly: my Fourth and Fifth Grand-Uncles went to the Cyan Nether Sword Sect over a month ago. They promised they'd have Hong Renjie take care of your brother and kill him. Hehehe, your brother's situation right now might not be much better than yours!"
"You... you're lying."
Yun ngyao gritted her teeth.
Hong Lin let out a sinister sneer, his eyes glinting with fervor and greed. "Lying? Do you think I need to lie to you?" He waved his hand. "n! Since Xue Butong and the remnants of the Spirit Pill Pavilion refuse to submit, we'll beat them until they do. As for Yun ngyao, none of you are to touch her. I'm going to have so fun with her myself!"
"Yes, sir!"
One hundred experts from the three great families attacked simultaneously.
Their montum was overwhelming. Eight Earth Soul Realm experts, combined with over ninety elites at or above the Seventh Layer of the Essence Realm—such a lineup was enough to sweep through Shishui City. They were completely confident they could handle any unexpected events.
"Little sister Yaoyao, co on, let your big brother have so fun with you!"
A savage grin spread across Hong Lin's face as he reached for Yun ngyao with both hands.
However...
In the instant before he could grab her, a furious roar, like a thunderclap that changed the color of the sky, suddenly exploded over Shishui City. When they heard this sound, Hong Lin and the other experts from the three great families were all deafened, their heads ringing, and their faces changed dramatically!
"I'd like to see who dares to touch her!"
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